Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-09-10
4 HOLY KISS
Promptly at y Affsr Prayer and oliIts
Satisfactory 70 an Concerned Ia the HGs-
dTdOsfs Undertaking.

promptly 0g = ATlsr ET9BeTs ana 4lllte
J Satisfactory to m Concerned Ia the Has-
dI-tOsEs Undertaking.
Detroit Free Pressl
He was tall and angular and sZ7
! tremely grave. He wore a suit Of black
broadeIoth and snowy linen. as became
his dignity as a clergyman. He sat
erect on one corner of the sofa, with
both feet placed squarely on the floor
and his fingers interlocked before him.
She was rather below the medium
size. Her hair was combed smoothly
back and coiled in a simple knot be-
hind. Her dress was devoid of rufle
or plating, but scrupulously neat in
its simplicity. She sat at the farther
end Of the sofa, with her eyes modestly
fastened upon her folded hands.
Silence reigned.
The clock licked in slow measure, as
if duly impressed with the solemnity
Of the occasion.
The cat by the hearth washed her
face industriously, blinked her sleepy
eyes at the two on the sofa, and then
curled herself up for a quiet nap.
He turned himself partly toward
her, and his eyes rested upon her with
satisfaction. His lips parted
"Mary."
She raised her eyes to his face.
"Do you remember 1t is seven years
tonight since our betrOthaI?"
AIarys eyes fell on her hands again
as she murmured:
"Yes, I remember"
A long pause, in which Mary changed
the folding of her hands. Again he
spoke graveIy:
At have been thinking. Mary, you
feel as though you knew me? As if
you could trust ne? These seven years
have been years of peace and pleasure,
have they not, Mary?"
ooh, yes, " sighed Mary.
"NIary, it has come to me that this is
quite a BETTING time to seal our be-
trothal"
Mary in doubt raised her eyes to his.
"Has the thought come to you,
AIary?"
But still Mary looked at him in Won
der. He shifted his position a little,
and then tried to make his thought
more plain to her.
"Aary, you remember in the Bible
they used signs of affection we use not.
Does it not seem BETTING we should
follow the example given US and greet
each other with a holy kiss ?"
NIary's eyes fell to her hands again.
Speak, Mary; what is your thought
on the subiect?"
Thus appealed to, Mary answered:
CAS- you think best always, Joseph.
He rose to his full height from the
sofa and took a step toward her. Mary
rose also, and stood with downcast eyes
and clasped hands before him. The
cat was still sleeping. He drew a step
nearer and took her hand lightly IN his.
The color began to mount her face.
"ShalI it be tomorrow night, Mary ?"
"As you like, Joseph"
"At z o'cIock?"
"At T., said Mary, and he left her.
The next night Mary, feeling rather
more uneasy than usual, sat at her
knitting and watched the hands of the
CLOCha 81 uoD aS L4Lt A4lLi6 JOLlLGu CA
actly at z o'clock the knocker at the
front door rose andfsu She laid aside
her knitting and went with outward
calmness to let him III as usual He
left his outside coat in the hall, and
they came into the room together. He
glanced at the clock.
1T is Z. You remember Of what we
were speaking last evening, Mary {?
Shall we ask a blessing that it may
prove all we may anticipate; that we
may not be disappointed"
They knelt while he put the petition.
And now, as they rose from their
knees, he approached her, and the try
ing ordeal was passed through with.
1t must have proved most satisfac-
tory, for when it had been repeated
several times Joseph exclaimed:
"That is good. What we have missed
these seven years! Let us return
thanks"